Dudley

The religious profile of Dudley changed substantially in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 310,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Dudley increased by 2.6%, from just over 305,000 to 313,000.

The addition of just under 7,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Dudley was home to, on average, 23 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Dudley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Dudley increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This industrial area had a higher average age than the West Midlands and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 6,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 9,000.

About 15% of people in Dudley are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Dudley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Dudley, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.8% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had only one person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in Dudley which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 42% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Dudley increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Dudley, the West Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

Dudley saw the West Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households in Dudley had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 30%.

Across the region, only Wyre Forest saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 11% to 10%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Dudley

Dudley saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.7%) in Dudley reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.8% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.7% to 7.4%.

Across the region, only Cannock Chase (from 3.9% to 5.0%) and Wyre Forest (from 3.1% to 4.1%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability, as the regional average grew from 3.5% to 4.2%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Dudley saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) in Dudley reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.7%.

Across the region, only Wyre Forest (from 2.0% to 2.7%) and Cannock Chase (from 2.5% to 3.2%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.3% to 2.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Dudley remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Dudley by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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